Hello my lovely tutu-loving friends! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, where pink tutus reign supreme and the magic of ballet takes centre stage! Today marks our 2080th #TutuTuesday post here at www.pink-tutu.com, and I'm thrilled to take you on a trip back in time to November 7th, 1871!
My, oh my, the Victorian Era was an era of elegance, grace and... well, quite a lot of corsets! As a lover of all things feminine, it's amazing to be back in this period of exquisite fashion, particularly since I’ve just had the absolute pleasure of attending a performance of Giselle at the Imperial Ballet in St. Petersburg.
The Imperial Ballet! You wouldn’t believe how absolutely stunning the entire performance was! I'm talking about glittering gowns, intricate steps and of course, the quintessential, gloriously romantic ballerina tutus. Just picture them, my darlings, billowing with each perfectly placed arabesque, a delicate swirl of tulle in a spectrum of dreamy shades – such elegance, such grace!
While we’re talking about tutus, darling, November 7th, 1871 saw something rather important happen for us tutu lovers – a revolution in costume design, with the introduction of the "tutu".
Hold on to your tiaras! I know I just mentioned that this was the Victorian Era, and let’s be honest, not exactly known for its minimalist fashion trends, am I right? We’re talking about those crinoline gowns that seem to have taken up the whole of the stage at times! But hold tight, my lovely readers.
A little over a century ago, we saw the introduction of the very first tutu as a fashion concept in the modern era. You can imagine my utter joy! The "tutu" we see in these early iterations was a marvel of its time – lightweight, airy, a graceful whirlwind of tulle with just enough embellishment for a touch of sparkle and magic. You see, my dear reader, this innovation in dress design freed ballet dancers from those constricting layers, enabling them to move more freely, allowing them to truly take flight on the stage!
Isn’t that utterly captivating? It’s these small but important steps forward that lead us to the tutu explosion we see in the world today. We simply wouldn’t be able to witness the marvels of modern ballet without the inspiration of those earlier dancers who defied expectations in those very early tutus – even the slightly more cumbersome versions. The beauty of a good tulle skirt really can inspire!
It’s absolutely fascinating to watch how this revolution in ballet and stage wear changed the artform. This is exactly the sort of inspiration I thrive on – the elegance, the history, and of course, the magic of the tutu!
Of course, as a devotee of all things pretty and pink, it was such a pleasure to see how the colour pink itself evolved on the stage in that era. While pastel pinks and shades of lavender are certainly delightful and certainly beautiful, this earlier period saw a trend toward richer vibrant, raspberry-hued tutus. Now, don’t get me wrong, nothing against your typical, pastel pink tutus - a true classic! But it’s the bold, statement-making colors like crimson that truly inspire my own personal creativity.
For someone who loves fashion so much, seeing this explosion of beauty in ballet has me truly giddy. It just so happens I’ve already purchased several lovely vintage garments for my own personal wardrobe, but I digress! Let's talk a bit more about this particular day in the annals of ballet and its influence on tutus as a fashion concept.
Let’s delve deeper into the details! November 7th, 1871 saw an early tutu worn by the phenomenal ballerina Marie Taglioni in a performance of the iconic ballet "La Sylphide." Just picture it – this beautiful ballerina, adorned in an absolutely gorgeous, light and romantic tutu that shimmered under the stage lights. Talk about taking your breath away!
She wore that exquisite piece during the most iconic, well-known pas de deux. And my dear, how beautiful it was – an intricate sequence, her skirt flaring out at every graceful step! As I say, this was the start of an absolutely incredible era of the tutu – something that has deeply impacted everything about the art of ballet.
Let's talk about that iconic, iconic pas de deux, where Taglioni embodies the spirit of the woodland nymph Sylphide in an elaborate, whimsical dance routine! You have to see it! Imagine, a tutu so flowing, so full, and so airy that it danced just as much as she did! Talk about ballet coming alive!
The way the stage lit up as the tutu swirled was absolutely magical. The early tutu truly began the transition from a restrictive ballet dress towards the streamlined, free-flowing outfits we know and love today. It’s about letting the art form be truly about the dance!
And to celebrate this momentous occasion in ballet fashion, my dears, I had to indulge in a shopping spree at one of my favorite vintage shops, the "The Little Dresser". I'm pretty sure they didn’t exist back in 1871 but you get my drift! Imagine being in a shop brimming with historical dresses - simply delightful! I couldn’t resist purchasing a truly magnificent crimson tutu with lace trim and delicate sequins. My dears, this is just one of the many vintage pieces I have found during my adventures!
After a most decadent dinner and a thrilling journey aboard a London train, I couldn’t wait to slip into that crimson beauty! I practiced my arabesques until the wee hours, all while fantasizing about those early pioneers who first wore these absolutely captivating tutus, pioneering new paths in fashion and grace. I'm even tempted to go shopping for an entirely pink, shimmering tutu as a tribute to these extraordinary women, pioneers who had the courage to break boundaries in ballet costume.
In conclusion, dear readers, it has been such a lovely day of ballet history exploration. It’s so interesting to consider how fashion influences everything around us, even ballet! This little corner of the internet wouldn’t exist without the wonderful inspiration that we can find all across the world of ballet.
This is, as they say, the world I was born to dance in – a world filled with glitter, magic and pink tutus, a whirlwind of beauty and style!
Until next Tuesday, may your dreams be filled with sparkle and graceful steps. Until next time, my lovely reader, be sure to look out for more of my #TutuTuesday adventures – right here!
